The proposed severance tax on Marcellus Shale gas production in Pennsylvania could be a campaign issue in the November governor’s race. More at wduqnews.com.

This article contains a “round up” of items relevant to the Marcellus Shale from country commissioners across Pennsylvania. Some are ready to use zoning to control natural gas drilling and transport. More at AmericanAgriculturalist.com.

West Virginia state government studies their options on opening their 42,000 acres of mineral rights beneath state forest lands to Marcellus Shale gas drilling. Those leases would bring hundreds of millions of dollars in lease and royalty payments. More at Forbes.com.

An article on Businessweek.com reports on a planned pipeline that will transport Marcellus Shale gas from Pennsylvania into upstate New York. The drilling moratorium in New York opens markets for Pennsylvania gas.

An article at Platts.com reports on the 17-person emergency response team that will be located in Pennsylvania to respond to natural gas well emergencies.

The New York Senate passed a bill that will further delay the approval of permits for drilling the Marcellus Shale. The state assembly and the governor must approve before it would go into effect. More at Reuters.

An article on Reuters.com reports that the bill to provide rebates to buyers of natural gas vehicles has provisions that require drilling companies to share the chemistry of their hydrofracturing fluids.

A Senate bill proposes $3.8 billion in rebates to buyers to select natural gas vehicles. More at Business Wire.

A member of the Pennsylvania State Senate is concerned that gas companies might receive the ability to force landowners into “pools” as part of the proposed severance tax bill. More at The Times Tribune.

An article on the Christian Science Monitor website reacts to a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology study that positions natural gas as a “bridge fuel” in the energy future of the United States.

In Pennsylvania the state Department of Environmental Protection is in charge of the regulations that govern natural gas drilling. However, some townships and counties are interested in regulating these activities at the local level. An article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explores the ability of local government to regulate natural gas drilling.

The Polish government is cautioning investors that the amount of natural gas contained in the country’s shale units is unknown and that more precise numbers will not be known for years. More at Business Week.

An article on the WXVT15 website reports that the Arkansas state department of Transportation director is blaming shale drilling trucks for causing damage to the roads.

The government of Alberta is offering royalty incentives to stimulate the development of their shale gas resource. More at Reuters.

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article about how the recent natural gas shale discoveries are going to change geopolitics, economies and how energy is used.